[This is a translation of an interview published October 20, 2008 by the Xinhua [New China] News Agency's NewsNet (link is to original article)
Tokyo, October 20, 2008 – Byline: NewsNet reporters Ma Jie 马杰 and Chen Xi陈曦
From the vivacious and lovable Xiao Yan of "Princess Pearl" to the dignified and gentle Madame Wang of "Painted Skin," which has already done more than 200 million yuan [US$29 million] at the box office, Zhao Wei [Vicki Zhao] in the past decade has seemingly undergone a total transformation in her performing style, as well maintaining her high popularity. Now in Japan doing publicity at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Zhao granted our reporters a special interview.
[right, the "Red Cliff' cast arrives on opening night]
Reporter: This is your second time at the Tokyo Film Festival; what are your feelings about it?
Zhao Wei: Chinese films have a higher degree of acceptance at the Tokyo festival than they are at Cannes or other European festivals, and it was considerable recognition when Prime Minister Aso and the cast of "Red Cliff" walked the same green carpet. Although China and Japan have language and cultural differences, the people of our two countries are very similar in our feelings and in the way we look at the world, so I feel our participation in the Tokyo festival activities is very cordial.
Reporter: What do you think of the current Tokyo festival's environmental protection theme?
Zhao Wei: Movies are an excellent tool for publicizing environmental concerns. I'm very environmentally conscious myself, for example, I deplore the use of disposable chopsticks, and I still have the reusable chopsticks from the festival's opening banquet, and I'm going to take them back to Beijing for repeat use.
Reporter: How do you personally view Chinese cinema's international influence?
Zhao Wei: Right now, Chinese cinema's international influence is only ordinary, but in Asia its influence is growing, competing with Korea to be the Asian wellspring. But just like the economy, it needs national policies that are supportive. More directors must be attracted to China to make movies before our industry will get very far.
Reporter: You're studying the directing specialty right now; is directing your future ideal?
Zhao Wei: Actually, it's a hoped-for specialty, I want to to add to my body of knowledge without rashly jumping into something new. It's not my future ideal to be a big director completely, I still want to be a good actress in the future. However, I really hope that China can produce more major directors, and younger people will study directing, and that way our actors will have greater job opportunities.
Reporter: You've tried many movie and TV roles in the past decade. What roles would you still like to do?
Zhao Wei: I'm not clear on that. Actors are relatively passive: it's not a case of wanting to be in a role, and that role will be there for you. More often, it's a case of taking up a script and reading it to determine whether you're up to the role, even to the point of losing your imagination. Now, by studying in the directing department, I want to develop my own creativity a bit, to see what I want to act, what I want to say.
Reporter: When will you begin directing your own maiden production? What will be its subject?
Zhao Wei: The first play I'll direct will be my graduation project, and it has to be completed before I can graduate next summer. But it won't definitely be something I'll develop, and its subject is still uncertain. Of course, I can start preparing it at any time, but right now I'm too busy with my work, so I haven't been able to just ruthlessly push everything else aside.
Reporter: What work are you involved with right now?
Zhao Wei: Mainly with recording. I've recorded 7 songs, and still have 3 more to do. As soon as I get back from Japan, I'll start recording them immediately. The music in this new album is stronger, but the more I do it the more I believe it's not far out of the mainstream, and it's very much in the style of the composer Li Quan 李泉 [James Li]. And I just finished filming a TV play, "An Epic of a Woman" [Yige Nüren de Shishi一个女人的史诗]. This is a very lovely play. The male lead is Liu Ye 刘烨, who plays my husband who has never loved me.
Reporter: "Red Cliff: Part 1" will go into nationwide release in Japan on November 1. What expectations do you have for the box office?
Zhao Wei: I don't know much about the Japanese market, but it could do well at the box office because this film comes from one of the strongest Chinese film groups, plus the fact the Japanese partner Avex 艾回 Entertainment is an especially strong company. The early marketing campaign for the movie has been done very well, for example after viewing it they decided to change the Tokyo Film Festival's opening ceremony to make it the first Japanese showing of "Red Cliff: Part 1." "Red Cliff: Part 2" may be released in Japan next April.
[Editor's note: "Red Cliff: Part 1" will be released in several European countries in January, 2009. US, UK and Australian release dates are still unset]
